Dan Gould

Don't count me as some sort of ESPN addict - but I do want to see highlights and scores especially during baseball season. The problem with ESPNews is that the highlights aren't very thorough. For that you need Baseball Tonight but then you are stuck with idiotic commentators like that failed GM who no other team has even considered interviewing since he got canned by the Mets. Aside from that idiotic Shwab game show and American Gladiators, Classic isn't a bad network particularly for classic boxing matches. Unfortunately that's about the only show on any of the networks with listenable, intelligent commentary. The brand really went downhill when the anchors decided they were more important than the results.

You are right, and that is another thing that is becoming intolerable - cross promotion between ESPN and Disney films. I can't remember where I saw it, maybe the Fire Joe Morgan website, but I think they did a lot of BS with the last Pirates movie, including lame-ass transitions ... I do have to admit there is one thing they've improved on, and that is the scroll on the right side of the screen during Sportscenter. Its helpful to know when the particular highlights you want to see are coming up.

The idea that Boras is influencing pitch counts is ludicrous. The fact is that Dice is adjusting to the four man rotation and has thrown a lot of pitches already. They said they would lighten his load to try to keep him fresh for the pennant drive and October. And with seven innings in the books and Oki well rested, it was the obvious move. Plus, a 1-0 game means absolutely no mistakes, and since Dice has given up a few blasts and Oki went from Opening Day to last week without giving up a single homer, he was the better choice for the situation, in my opinion. As for Teixeira, I can't see them making big changes on such a successful team, especially when the odd man out has played so well all year (Lowell). And to give up their best position prospect when he is knocking on the door is crazy when you are getting someone who is guaranteed to go to free agency in two years. You can absolutely bet the Yankees will go very hard for him when all he will cost is money. Even if you think you can convince him that Boston is a great place in the next year and a half, there's no way he doesn't test the market. The only trade I make for Teixeira has Lester as the centerpiece, and a lesser prospect thrown in. I'll always root for Lester but I am not entirely convinced he won't be a guy who doesn't harness his talent and put it all together.

What a pitching performance at the Jake from both starters! Dice goes to 12-7, Sabathia misses the chance to win his 14th and that gives Beckett the chance to be the first to reach that level tomorrow in another marque match up against Carmona. Hopefully Papi's return will give Fausto flashbacks to last year and the bats will come alive. Yanks keep pounding out the runs but this five game win streak and the things that have gone along with it give me a good feeling that we're ready to take off again.

Anyone else sick to death of ESPN lately? Wasting what seems like hours on this "Who is Now?" stupidity ... Chris Berman's shtick past its sell-by date about five years ago ... and now they consider "American Gladiators" to be worthy of showing, over and over again, on ESPN Classic?

:party:

Even as kids, we drank diet soda - Tab, sometimes Fresca, then Diet Coke or Pepsi, so "taste" has never been a reason to avoid diet soda for me - I was raised drinking it. But aside from coffee in the morning (I'd say yes I'm addicted but unlike my wife I didn't have withdrawal symptoms like a raging headache when the power was out for a week) and water when I play tennis, diet soda is the only thing I drink (quit alcohol aside from wine with Christmas dinner and champagne on New Year's Eve). I've gone with the no-caffeine versions for many years now, but this report definitely gives me a little pause. You know, I've gone back to Fresca a few times lately - there is no diet version, its always been zero calories. I wonder if I've found a loophole.

Perhaps, but for a number of years there, you weren't at the Jake. In fact it was Tribe fans appearing in large numbers in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore etc. Oh those were the days. Remember when Thome and Manny were the 7 and 8 hitters in the lineup, and Julian Tavarez was a lights out 8th inning guy? More than a decade ago now... Yeah, and since then its the Sox that are working toward setting the record for home sellouts that the Indians set back in those years. Of course, how many of Nation members in attendance were of the "pink hat" variety, no one knows.

Yes. Apparently pretty rare - I stumbled across a Japanese copy a couple of years ago.

We're everywhere, Patrick - and with Lester making his return, you had to expect an even larger crowd. I agree it was a great sight, even though Lester continued to show the same pattern of inconsistent command. I also don't understand what happened to his fastball. Before he was called up last year, it was usually around 95. When he got to the majors, it was in the low 90s. After the cancer diagnosis, people assumed that was the cause, and he was supposed to go back to where he was. Supposedly at the beginning of his rehab starts, his velocity did improve, but where is it now? Even if his command is iffy, he'd get more swings and misses if his fastball was 95, because it improves the differential between that and his offspeed pitches. Much to everyone's surprise, Timlin has pitched extremely effectively since his return from the DL in June. Including a couple of bad appearances back then, his ERA is still under 2 since that date. He's gradually working his way back into Tito's good graces. Timlin, Delcarmen, Okajima and Papelbon, with Lopez for the occasional lefty, make for an extraordinary bullpen, especially when you consider that none of the starters are six inning Yankee types, it gives plenty of options to keep people fresh. Oh, and one other thing - its great when you win four in a row in a streak that started with Ortiz coming out of the game and still not returning yet.

Good stories, Al, and I agree there's a risk that the Devil Rays won't cooperaate - but we've had a pretty good time with them so far this year and most of last year. As for Harry, there was only one thing I couldn't stand during his broadcasts: Every ball hit in the air was called a "drive". Dying quail into the second baseman's glove: "here's a drive going to be caught by Sandberg." High fly to CF: it's a "drive". used to "drive" me nuts.

Jon Lester just got called up and i believe will pitch tomorrow night . They are bumping Tavarez to the bullpen FINALLY !!!!!!! Its great news even though Lester really hasn't pitched lights out at AAA. I'm glad they got Julian out of there though I'm not sure if Lester will make a triumphant return. I'll be very curious what they do to clear the roster spot. Javier Lopez has options left so he'd be easiest to move but that would leave the bullpen without a situational lefty, which doesn't make a lot of sense playing the Indians. Delcarmen certainly doesn't remotely deserve a demotion and has been groomed to be the righty 8th inning guy. I'd hate for them to decide that Timlin is ready to return to that role and send MDC down. My best hope is that they move Piniero. With Schilling having such a good rehab start, this is the best I've felt about the team since the ASB. You got your wish Dan , Piniero has been reassigned Just saw that, and he was obviously the odd man out and I'm glad they recognized it. Too bad with him DFA'd, teams will most likely wait out the ten days and leave us on the hook for the remainder of his salary. Aren't you glad Paps went back to being closer? Its scary to think that this was the guy they were hoping would take over that spot, and now this is where we are with him. Paps had trouble today loading the bases and then facing Thome and Konerko. I'm glad he is the closer, BUT i still get a little scared he will wear down like last year Ya got to wonder if the Sox will keep him in that role next year if they can find someone in the offseason. A rotation of Beckett, Dice -K, Lester, Paplebon and Gabbard would be hard to beat ! Paps walk rate has gone up this year, which has resulted in a few more hairy save situations, but I no longer even think about his shoulder injury from last year. He has been used so carefully there is no way that he breaks down because of the overuse Francona put him through last year. I don't think there will be any discussion whatsoever about a return to the rotation unless he does get hurt again (knock wood). He's made it clear this is what he wants to do, and he does it extremely well and there is no reason to mess with it again. And besides, Buchholz will be ready to be the fifth starter next season anyway.

Key stat for Yankee fans getting giddy over their destruction of Tampa Bay this weekend: Yankee Games Left Against Devil Rays: 6 Red Sox Games Left Against Devil Rays: 15

Well, Harry was more entertaining. Chip is probably the more professional "announcer". As for Braves on TBS, they've cut way back on those broadcasts since the team was sold, which makes it all the more surprising that TBS drops the Braves (after this season maybe?) but adds Division Series games.

Jon Lester just got called up and i believe will pitch tomorrow night . They are bumping Tavarez to the bullpen FINALLY !!!!!!! Its great news even though Lester really hasn't pitched lights out at AAA. I'm glad they got Julian out of there though I'm not sure if Lester will make a triumphant return. I'll be very curious what they do to clear the roster spot. Javier Lopez has options left so he'd be easiest to move but that would leave the bullpen without a situational lefty, which doesn't make a lot of sense playing the Indians. Delcarmen certainly doesn't remotely deserve a demotion and has been groomed to be the righty 8th inning guy. I'd hate for them to decide that Timlin is ready to return to that role and send MDC down. My best hope is that they move Piniero. With Schilling having such a good rehab start, this is the best I've felt about the team since the ASB. You got your wish Dan , Piniero has been reassigned Just saw that, and he was obviously the odd man out and I'm glad they recognized it. Too bad with him DFA'd, teams will most likely wait out the ten days and leave us on the hook for the remainder of his salary. Aren't you glad Paps went back to being closer? Its scary to think that this was the guy they were hoping would take over that spot, and now this is where we are with him.

Jon Lester just got called up and i believe will pitch tomorrow night . They are bumping Tavarez to the bullpen FINALLY !!!!!!! Its great news even though Lester really hasn't pitched lights out at AAA. I'm glad they got Julian out of there though I'm not sure if Lester will make a triumphant return. I'll be very curious what they do to clear the roster spot. Javier Lopez has options left so he'd be easiest to move but that would leave the bullpen without a situational lefty, which doesn't make a lot of sense playing the Indians. Delcarmen certainly doesn't remotely deserve a demotion and has been groomed to be the righty 8th inning guy. I'd hate for them to decide that Timlin is ready to return to that role and send MDC down. My best hope is that they move Piniero. With Schilling having such a good rehab start, this is the best I've felt about the team since the ASB.

I have one neighbor that sends his kid out at night to do the lawn , the kid holds a flashlight while he mows! My wife got sick of the lawn one late afternoon and decided to get it cut in the fading daylight, until she struck a brick left on our side by the neighbor kid - scared the hell out of her and cost the neighbors a blade sharpening and engine servicing.

Yet another difference between here and there. With the rainy season in full "bloom" no one can go much more than a week here or the grass will be so thick and long it will choke the life out of the mower.

Looks like you messed up the copy and paste there, Jim. The complete final sentence: What is this unreleased "Acid Green" session he and others refer to?

Well, in south Florida, you better get your yard work done early in the AM or risk heat stroke by sleeping in.

Last time.

one more

and another one

In Tammy Faye's memory, here are a few classic Bloom County strips: